Give to Gain: Celebrating Women’s History Month with the Leaders of WIN

In 2015, our team members noticed a gap. While women were vital contributors to the team, they were underrepresented in higher-level leadership. Focusing on advocating for and creating positive change, the Women’s Impact Network (WIN), originally under the name DISH Women’s Network, was formed.

As we reflect on Women’s History Month, we spoke with the leaders of WIN to discuss how this employee resource group (ERG) is inspiring women, building community, and growing culture at EchoStar.

The WIN Mission

The mission of WIN focuses on three primary goals: educating on unconscious bias, advocating for a more cohesive company, and creating positive change, as diversity only makes us stronger. For Marie Nelson, WIN President for the last three years, the ERG was her chance to step into a leadership role. 

"I was looking for an opportunity to gain leadership experience without leaving the company," Marie shares. Prior to her time in the leadership role, she managed the WIN communications. Today, her leadership style is fully centered around identifying people’s passion, motivating them to grow, and providing the tools they need to be successful. 

Through her hard work and dedication, Marie became close partners with Adileh Sharieff, the current VP of WIN. Adileh and Marie align on initiatives and collaborate closely to open opportunities for women around the company. Adileh says stepping into a leadership role has been an incredible learning experience and it’s helped her better understand how to help women thrive in the workplace. In her leadership role, she finds herself engaging with women in the hallways and inviting them to attend upcoming events, always looking for unique ways to grow the WIN community.

Marie and Adileh credit their determination to their grandmothers, whom they describe as forces of nature. They strive to embody the same tireless work ethic in their leadership and into every initiative they champion for WIN.

A “Give to Gain” Culture

Aligning with this year's International Women’s Day theme, "Give to Gain," the leaders of WIN emphasized the more involved you are, the more you gain. 

• Not Just for Women: "You can't advocate effectively without every voice in the room," Marie notes. Men are encouraged to attend, listen, and act as allies.

• Cross-Functional Support: WIN frequently partners with other ERGs, recognizing that identity is multi-faceted.

• Flexible & Autonomous: WIN is extremely flexible, autonomous, and always open to new ideas. If an ERG member is passionate about something and proposes an idea for the ERG, there is an entire team of leaders ready to support you.

A Sustainable Community

An additional theme this month is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future”. For WIN, this took on a dual meaning. While they remain eco-conscious through all of their events, they are also focused on human sustainability, ensuring the talent network at EcoStar has a sense of belonging, sustainability, and resiliency.

Both Marie and Adileh are hosting a women's hygiene kit drive and sustainability swap & donate, focusing on the importance of sustainability and giving back to your community. 

Outside of Women’s History Month, WIN hosts many events throughout the year. While many events focus on fun networking gatherings like sporting outings, happy hours, or crafts, they also hold professional development classes such as navigating difficult conversations, writing a performance appraisal, and helpful certifications.

The ERG Impact

Marie admits that early in her career, she didn't see the need for ERGs as she felt she was already very successful at EchoStar. Like many employees, she felt she did not have the bandwidth to be involved. To overcome the challenges faced with time constraints, WIN intentionally schedules most events during lunch hours.

The payoff is worth the hour away from the desk. "You’re never going to broaden your network until you get involved," Adileh notes. ERGs also typically have a strong number of senior leaders who attend events. Even if you are partaking in a light-hearted activity, it is an opportunity to network with senior leaders from across the company. 

The WIN Momentum

As Women’s History Month comes to an end, the WIN mission remains constant: to expand their reach and cultivate an environment that thrives on creative initiatives and innovative professional growth opportunities. 

At EchoStar, we are dedicated to empowering every team member to reach their full potential. Through our ERGs, we open the doors for endless networking opportunities, experiences, and mentorship.